June 26
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God,” Galatians 5:19-21.
How should we, as Christians, conduct ourselves in this life? If we claim to be Christians, then we should live like Christians. To the Romans, the apostle Paul wrote, “If you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live,” Romans 8:13. Within the body of a Christian there is a constant battle being fought between the old man – our sinful nature, and the new man – the Christian in us. Prior to the text above, the apostle wrote, “The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish,” Galatians 5:17.
In his Epistle to the Romans, the apostle Paul describes this inward battle at length: “What I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the Law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me . . . I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin,” Romans 7:15-25.
As Christians, we must battle constantly against the works of the flesh, of which the apostle gives a lengthy list: “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like.” “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, and lewdness” refer to all the sexual relations outside of the marriage union. “Idolatry and sorcery” refer to worshiping false gods and witchcraft. “Hatred, contentions, jealousies, and outbursts of wrath” refer to a lack of temper and tongue control. “Selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, and envy” refer to thinking of self and forgetting the welfare of the neighbor. “Murders, drunkenness, and revelries” refer to violent activities.
Paul concludes, “I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Paul is not speaking of people who, in a moment of weakness, stumble and commit one or the other of these sins. He is speaking of people who willfully, intentionally, stubbornly, and persistently live on in these sins against all better spiritual knowledge and understanding. The stubbornness of the flesh will silence the voice of faith in the forgiveness of God through Christ.
As Christians, we plead for the Holy Spirit to touch and open our hearts to repent of our sins and to put our complete trust in Jesus’ blood and righteousness for full forgiveness. Out of love for our Lord who first loved us, and led by the Holy Spirit, we will strive to live a God-pleasing life.
“O God, forsake me not!
Take not Thy Spirit from me;
And suffer not the might
Of sin to overcome me.
Increase my feeble faith,
Which Thou Thyself hast wrought;
Be Thou my Strength and Pow’r –
O God, forsake me not!” Amen.